Sunset hikes

A short walk out, the whole show, and back at your car before dark. Times are estimates at a relaxed pace; give yourself extra buffer, especially with kids or in a group.

1. Castle Peak–Summit Lake, 6 sights 1.7 mi away

   Leave by 3:48 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:48 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Head back7:16 PM
   4. At your car9:33 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 9:33 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.5 mi to the viewpoint · 1370 ft climb · 311 min of walking

2. Donner Lake–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 1.9 mi away

   Leave by 6:22 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:22 PM
   2. Sunset7:02 PM
   3. Head back7:17 PM
   4. At your car7:28 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 7:28 PM — 0 min before dark.

   0.5 mi to the viewpoint · 280 ft climb · 32 min of walking

3. Roller Pass–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 2.1 mi away

   Leave by 3:41 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:41 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Head back7:16 PM
   4. At your car9:23 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 9:23 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.2 mi to the viewpoint · 1840 ft climb · 307 min of walking

4. Lake Mary–Emigrant Trail, 4 sights 2.1 mi away

   Leave by 3:48 PM

   1. Leave trailhead3:48 PM
   2. Sunset7:01 PM
   3. Head back7:16 PM
   4. At your car9:18 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 9:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.0 mi to the viewpoint · 1740 ft climb · 295 min of walking

5. Snowshed–Snowshed North Face, 6 cliffs 2.4 mi away

   Leave by 6:20 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:20 PM
   2. Sunset7:02 PM
   3. Head back7:17 PM
   4. At your car7:29 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 7:29 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   0.5 mi to the viewpoint · 300 ft climb · 33 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

6. Signal Hill–Snowshed, 8 lakes 2.6 mi away

   Leave by 5:59 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:59 PM
   2. Sunset7:02 PM
   3. Head back7:17 PM
   4. At your car7:46 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 7:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   1.2 mi to the viewpoint · 450 ft climb · 72 min of walking

7. Donner Peak–Donner Peak Viewpoint, 9 sights 2.6 mi away

   Leave by 5:11 PM

   1. Leave trailhead5:11 PM
   2. Sunset7:02 PM
   3. Head back7:17 PM
   4. At your car8:16 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   2.4 mi to the viewpoint · 1070 ft climb · 151 min of walking

8. Tunnel Rock–Pacific Crest Viewpoint, 10 sights 3.4 mi away

   Leave by 4:05 PM

   1. Leave trailhead4:05 PM
   2. Sunset7:02 PM
   3. Head back7:17 PM
   4. At your car9:46 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 9:46 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

   5.4 mi to the viewpoint · 870 ft climb · 306 min of walking

9. Lake Angela–Flora Lake, 10 sights 1.7 mi away

   Leave by 6:40 PM

   1. Leave trailhead6:40 PM
   2. Sunset7:02 PM
   3. Head back7:17 PM
   4. At your car7:18 PM
   5. Dark7:28 PM

   Back at your car by 7:18 PM — 10 min before dark.

   0.1 mi to the viewpoint · 4 min of walkingCar visible from the viewpoint

10. Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road & Lakeview Canyon Road 2 mi away

    Leave by 4:20 PM

    1. Leave trailhead4:20 PM
    2. Sunset7:01 PM
    3. Head back7:16 PM
    4. At your car9:14 PM
    5. Dark7:28 PM

    Back at your car by 9:14 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    4.2 mi to the viewpoint · 1310 ft climb · 258 min of walking

11. Dutch Flat Donner Lake Wagon Road–Emigrant Trail, 3 sights 3.1 mi away

    Leave by 2:38 PM

    1. Leave trailhead2:38 PM
    2. Sunset7:01 PM
    3. Head back7:16 PM
    4. At your car10:53 PM
    5. Dark7:28 PM

    Back at your car by 10:53 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    8.0 mi to the viewpoint · 1630 ft climb · 460 min of walking

12. Petroglyph Cliff–Donner Pass, 5 sights 3.4 mi away

    Leave by 5:11 PM

    1. Leave trailhead5:11 PM
    2. Sunset7:02 PM
    3. Head back7:17 PM
    4. At your car8:49 PM
    5. Dark7:29 PM

    Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

    3.4 mi to the viewpoint · 260 ft climb · 183 min of walking